Vented Garment Offset Seam Passages for Moisture Vapor Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold-weather garments trap moisture vapor due to water-resistant fabrics and insulation, leading to discomfort and reduced effectiveness in maintaining warmth during physical activities.
Innovation Solution
A vented garment design featuring interior and exterior panels with offset openings that form passages for moisture and heat to escape, allowing for breathability while maintaining insulation through the use of lightweight, weather-resistant materials and strategically placed seams and openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water-resistant fabrics and insulation are used in cold-weather garments, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but moisture vapor transmission is reduced causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The garment is divided into multiple functional layers: an outer shell layer with weather-resistant properties, an intermediate insulation layer with segmented chambers, and an inner moisture-wicking layer. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function - the outer layer blocks wind and water, the insulation layer traps heat, and the inner layer manages moisture, collectively resolving the contradiction between insulation and breathability
Solution Approach 2:
A moisture vapor transmission membrane is introduced as an intermediary layer between the insulation and the outer shell. This membrane acts as a selective barrier that allows moisture vapor molecules to pass through while blocking liquid water and wind, thereby maintaining the weather-resistant and insulating properties of the outer layers while enabling moisture vapor escape to prevent discomfort
2Stability of the object's composition
If fill-proof textiles with DWR treatment are used, then fill material retention is improved, but moisture vapor escape is reduced leading to discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The garment incorporates different material properties in different locations and layers. The outer shell uses fill-proof textiles with DWR treatment specifically where fill retention is critical, while the inner layers and ventilation zones use more breathable materials optimized for moisture vapor transmission. This localized differentiation allows the garment to maintain fill integrity in critical areas while enabling moisture management in other areas, resolving the contradiction between fill retention and breathability
3Temperature
If insulation layers are added to cold-weather garments, then thermal retention is improved, but moisture vapor transmission rate is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation layer incorporates expandable ventilation channels and adjustable vents that can dynamically open or close based on the wearer's activity level and body temperature. During high-intensity activities when moisture vapor production increases, these channels expand or open to enhance vapor transmission. During low-activity periods, they close to maintain maximum thermal retention, thus dynamically adapting to resolve the contradiction between thermal retention and moisture vapor transmission rate
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates the release of moisture vapor and heat from the garment while minimizing heat loss, ensuring the wearer remains warm and dry during cold-weather activities.
Implementation Method 1
the multiple seam areas are spaced to define exterior boundaries of a plurality of chambers (130) defined by the exterior panel (310, 610, 1007) and the middle panel (320) and filled with a thermally-insulating fill material
Implementation Method 2
an inward-facing portion of the exterior garment panel (305) is attached to the interior panel (344, 620, 1006) to form an exhaust passage defined by the interior-facing side of the exterior garment panel (305) and an exterior-facing side of the interior panel (344, 1006)
Implementation Method 3
an interior panel (344, 620, 1006) comprising a weather-resistant material and having a plurality of interior openings (342, 415, 1002); an exterior panel (310, 610, 1007) comprising a weather-resistant material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The technology described herein relates to breathable, vented, and insulating garments. More particularly, the technology described herein relates to garments (100) with chambers (130) to retain an insulating fill (330) material. Openings (110) along seams (120) between the insulating chambers (130) may achieve evaporative moisture or air transfer from the inside (proximal to the body (2002) of a wearer) of the garment (100) to the outside environment. In an aspect, the openings (110) along the seams (120) are offset with interior openings (342), wherein the interior openings (342) are connected to the exterior openings (110) by a passage between garment layers.